Graves Calls for Repealing Unused Portions of Obama's $787 billion Stimulus Bil

Calls out Hawkins for joining Biden at pep rally

(RANGER, GA) – With five days before the 9th Congressional District Special General Runoff Election, conservative Republican Tom Graves reiterated his opposition to President Obama’s $787 billion spending bill and continued the call to repeal the unused portions of the legislation.

“From the very first day I began this campaign I said empowering the private sector, not government, would lead America back to prosperity,” said Graves.  “I oppose the $787 billion stimulus bill because it puts our country further into debt.  Government-funded stimulus does nothing to create private sector jobs, which is the way to get our economy going again.  

Last week House Republicans announced plans to eliminate $1.3 trillion in spending and included repealing the unused portions of the $787 billion stimulus and the TARP funds to achieve these savings.  Graves says he supports this effort.

“I’ve repeatedly called for repealing the unused portions of President Obama’s stimulus.”

However, Graves’ strong opposition to the stimulus bill is in stark contrast to his opponent in the runoff, Lee Hawkins, who last December joined Vice President Joe Biden at a pep rally for the stimulus bill.

“President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus failed to create the promised jobs and instead put our country further in debt and my opponent thinks it’s a good idea to join Joe Biden at a pep rally for this thing?” said Graves.  “Give me a break.  His actions speak volumes about his commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility in Washington – he can’t be trusted.  North Georgia needs a consistent conservative, not another politician who lacks the backbone to stand up to the wasteful tax and spend mentality that now prevails in Congress.”

“There is a clear difference between me and my opponent.  I oppose the stimulus bill, and have called for repealing the unused portions of it, while Lee has shown support for President Obama’s $787 billion spending bill,” said Graves.

Graves and Hawkins also differ on tax cuts and earmarks.  

Hawkins opposed Georgia Jobs, Opportunity and Business Success Act (JOBS Act), which provided tax credits, cuts and eliminations to spur job creation in Georgia.  The JOBS Act specifically provides tax credit to employers who hire out of work Georgians, cuts Georgia’s capital gains tax in half and eliminates the net worth tax.  Graves wrote the JOBS Act when he was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Hawkins also supports special interest earmarks while Graves has taken a pledge against them.
 
Graves finished first in the May 11th Special General Election, receiving 35.4 percent of the vote and out polled his runoff opponent by 12 points.

Graves has been endorsed by FreedomWorks, RedState’s Erick Erickson, the Club for Growth PAC, Jim Gilchrist’s Minuteman Project, Congressman Lynn Westmoreland and former 9th District candidates Bert Loftman and Eugene Moon.  Graves was the first candidate to be certified 100 percent pro-life by the Georgia Right to Life PAC.

Graves represented the 12th House District from 2003 until March 23, 2010.  Graves announced over a year ago that he would seek the 9th District Congressional seat that was vacated by Congressman Nathan Deal, who is running for Governor.